EU price shock: tobacco tax should increase massively in Austria!

EU price shock: tobacco tax should increase massively in Austria!

Österreich - in Austria there was a significant increase in tobacco tax on April 1, 2025. This was raised to EUR 83.50 per 1,000 cigarettes, which led to a price increase of around 20 to 30 cents per pack. According to OE24, the EU Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, is now pushing to another drastic increase in tobacco prices. In a comprehensive 196-page document, the "containment of tobacco consumption" is outlined as a central goal through tax measures. The plan is to make smoking more unaffected to ultimately reduce cancer and reduce health costs for the federal states.

The new tobacco tax directive could lead to the tax height based on the prosperity of the respective EU countries. The first forecasts show that the cost of a pack of cigarettes could increase by about 50 to 70 cents. According to OE24, the necessary decisions on the new guideline will soon be caught, although there are still discrepancies within the member states. This increases the concern that those who already suffer from the pressure of high prices could continue to be burdened.

challenges and concerns

experts warn of the potential risks of these tax increases. The aggressive pricing policy could not only burden the smokers even more, but also result in an increase in illegal tobacco trade. This increases the likelihood that less regulated products will be circulated that can bring health risks. These worries were taken up by all-round Germany, since the containment of tobacco consumption should not only be carried out via tax measures, but also through prevention work and education.

The successful implementation of the new tax guideline is also influenced by its compatibility with existing EU requirements. According to the EUR-LEX Directive to harmonize the consumer structure that must ensure that all member states must Cigarette prices correspond to the given standards. Starting points such as the proportional and specific consumption tax have already been specified, but national regulations must also be observed to ensure fair competition.

summarized remains to be seen how quickly and effectively the new measures are implemented by the member states. The planned tax increase could not only restrict the financial possibilities of smokers, but also encourage the illegal tobacco industry, which presents the authorities with additional challenges.